409: Chapter 409 Believe it or not, I'll call the police?

In the east of the city, at the Splendid Nightclub.

This was the largest and most luxurious entertainment venue in Central Plains City, as well as Lord Long's base of operations.

Neon lights flickered, and the four large characters for "Splendid Nightclub" hung high atop the building, exceptionally eye-catching in the night.

The entrance was packed with luxury cars, and glamorous men and women moved in and out, a scene of pure decadence.

Boss Mu's motorcycle stopped at the entrance.

He hopped off the bike and looked back at the slowly approaching lamborghini, his expression filled with a bit of trepidation.

Ye Chen pushed the door open and got out, glancing up at the magnificent building.

"This is it?"

Boss Mu nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, yes. Lord Long is in his office on the top floor."

"He comes here every night and stays until the early hours of the morning."

Ye Chen nodded and started walking toward the main entrance.

Boss Mu hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and followed.

Wen Yating and Huang Xian exchanged a look and hurried to keep up.

Four burly men in black suits stood at the door. Seeing someone approach, they were about to speak...

Boss Mu stepped forward first, approaching with a face full of smiles.

"Brothers, it's me, Mu Iron Bullet."

"I have urgent business with Lord Long. Please let him know."

The four burly men glanced at him, their eyes landing on his soaking wet clothes, a flash of disgust appearing in their gaze.

One of them frowned. "Mu Iron Bullet, did you fall into a ditch?"

Boss Mu's face stiffened slightly, and he gave a forced laugh.

"An accident. Please let him know, it really is urgent."

The man hesitated but eventually picked up his walkie-talkie and said a few words.

A moment later, he put down the walkie-talkie and stepped aside.

"Go on in. Lord Long is on the top floor."

Boss Mu nodded repeatedly and led Ye Chen and the other two through the main doors.

...

In the top-floor office of the nightclub, the lights were dim and smoke filled the air.

A man in his fifties leaned back on a leather sofa, a thick cigar clamped in his mouth as he puffed out clouds of smoke.

It was the overlord of Central Plains City's underworld—Lord Long.

He squinted at the large screen on the opposite wall, which was broadcasting a boxing match.

A subordinate in black stood off to the side with his hands down, a fawning smile on his face.

Lord Long exhaled a smoke ring and spoke calmly, "How is the matter progressing?"

The subordinate in black hurried forward and whispered.

"Don't worry, Lord Long. The news has already started to spread."

"Our people have spread it both online and offline."

"We've especially emphasized that Ye Chen, the Chief Instructor of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion of the Dragon Group, has been using his status to bully people in Central Plains City, taking bribes from underworld forces, and shielding criminals."

"If nothing goes wrong, the situation will blow up by tomorrow morning."

"Additionally, we've arranged seven or eight 'victims' who will come forward with real-name reports when the time is right."

"We guarantee the task from above will be completed."

Hearing this, Lord Long nodded with satisfaction, a smug smile curling his lips. "Mm, well done."

The subordinate in black hesitated but couldn't help but ask.

"Lord Long, there's something I'm not sure if I should say..."

Lord Long glanced at him. "Speak."

The subordinate swallowed and said cautiously.

"I've heard that this Ye Chen... is no ordinary person."

"He was the one who wiped out the Sima Family in the capital, and members of the Chen Family are said to have fallen by his hand as well."

"With someone like that, if we frame him like this... won't something go wrong?"

"If he finds us, we'll be in huge trouble..."

Before he could finish his sentence...

The smile on Lord Long's face vanished instantly.

He stared at the subordinate, his gaze as cold as ice.

"Give me your hand."

The subordinate was startled, a bad premonition rising in his heart, but he didn't dare to disobey. He could only nerve himself and extend his right hand.

Lord Long took his cigar and pressed the glowing red tip directly onto the back of the man's hand.

"Sizzle—"

The sound of searing flesh rang out.

The subordinate's face went pale instantly, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He trembled with pain but gritted his teeth, not daring to pull his hand back or make a sound.

Holding the cigar down, Lord Long spoke calmly.

"We are only responsible for carrying out orders. Don't overstep your bounds."

"Do exactly what those above tell us to do."

"Understand?"

Gritting his teeth, the subordinate squeezed out a few words, "Under... understood!"

Only then did Lord Long release his hand and lean back on the sofa, that smug smile reappearing on his face.

"Besides, once we finish this job, we'll become the largest underworld force in all of Central Plains City."

"By then, that Ye Chen..."

He sneered, his eyes full of disdain.

"So what if he finds out?"

"He'll likely have enough on his plate as it is."

"Once public opinion boils over online and things flare up offline, the pressure from above will come down. It's hard to say if he'll even be able to keep his position as Chief Instructor of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion."

"At that time, how will he have the energy to come looking for trouble with us?"

Clutching the burn on the back of his hand, the subordinate nodded repeatedly. "Lord Long is wise! Lord Long is right!"

Lord Long smiled with satisfaction and looked back at the large screen.

Just then...

“Bang!!!”

The solid wood door of the private room was kicked open!

The entire door flew off its frame and crashed to the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust!

Lord Long jumped up from the sofa, his hand already reaching for the gun at his waist.

His Bodyguards also rushed out from various corners, shielding him.

The dust settled.

A youthful figure stood at the entrance with his hands behind his back.

Ye Chen stepped into the room, his gaze landing on Lord Long's face as he gave a slight smile.

"Lord Long, I presume?"

"I heard... that under your 'skillful maneuvers,' I'll have enough on my plate?"

Lord Long's expression instantly became quite a sight.

He stared wide-eyed, looking at the young man before him in disbelief.

This person was...

Ye Chen!

How could he be here?

Most absurdly...

He hadn't even fully deployed his methods for spreading rumors yet!

The subordinate in black beside him felt his legs go weak, nearly kneeling on the spot.

They were just saying he'd have his hands full, and now he was standing right in front of them?

What kind of face-slapping speed was this???

Lord Long took a deep breath, suppressing the horror in his heart, and spoke coldly, "Ye Chen, you've trespassed on my territory. Believe it or not, I'll call the police?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh.

"Call the police?"

"I am the law."

He stepped forward. The Bodyguards blocking his path were about to act when Ye Chen gave a casual wave of his hand, sending them all flying backward to crash into the walls, knocked unconscious.

In the blink of an eye.

Only Lord Long and the subordinate in black remained standing in the room.

Of course, the subordinate had already collapsed to the floor in fear, trembling all over.

Ye Chen walked up to Lord Long and looked down at him.

"Talk."

"Who is the person above you?"

Lord Long's face was ashen. He gritted his teeth and didn't say a single word.

Ye Chen nodded.

"Not talking?"

"Fine."

He raised his right hand and pressed it gently onto Lord Long's shoulder.

In the next second.

A strange power surged into Lord Long's body.

Lord Long's face changed drastically. He felt the strength throughout his body rapidly draining away. His legs went weak, and he fell directly to his knees.

"What... what did you do to me?!"

Ye Chen looked down at him and smiled slightly.

"Nothing much."

"I just crippled your cultivation and sealed a few of your meridians."

"From now on, you are just an ordinary person."

"Actually, you're a cripple even weaker than an ordinary person."

"The kind who will struggle even to hold chopsticks."

That's right.

Lord Long was also a cultivator.

However...

In Ye Chen's eyes, he was very, very weak...

Weaker than a chicken.

Lord Long's pupils shrank, his expression shifting from shock to horror, and then from horror to despair.

He struggled to stand, but found that his legs truly wouldn't obey him at all. He could only lie slumped on the floor like a pile of mud.

Ye Chen crouched down, his gaze meeting the man's terror-filled eyes.

"Now, can you talk?"

"If you still won't talk, my next kick will land on your family jewels."

Lord Long trembled violently, his psychological defenses completely collapsing.

"I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"It's... it's the people from the Shenwu Alliance!"

"They found me and told me to spread rumors about you online and offline, and even arranged people to report you using their real names!"

"They said that as long as I handled this well, the entire underworld of Central Plains City would be mine to rule!"

"And they would give me a huge sum of money!"

"I... I was just greedy for a moment. Please, spare my life!"

After hearing this, Ye Chen nodded slightly.

The Shenwu Alliance again.

These people were truly persistent.

Ye Chen nodded. "How do you usually contact them?"

Lord Long gave a bitter laugh.

"My Lord, I can't contact them at all!"

"Every time, they were the ones who reached out to me, using different numbers and different people."

"I tried calling back, but they were all dead numbers."

"They are too cautious!"

Ye Chen stared into his eyes for two seconds, confirming he wasn't lying.

A low-level boss like this indeed couldn't possibly have contact with the core of the Shenwu Alliance.

He withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly.

"Fine."

"I'll give you one minute to take down all the rumors online."

"If you exceed that by even a second, I'll tear off one of your arms."